Impeller pump



1944. w. A; SHALLENBE-RG ,1

IMPELLER PUMP Filed May 18, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet l FIG] INVENTOR. WALTER Alli/Manama A T TOKNEYI PatentedDeaB, I

IMPELLER Walter A. Shallenberg, Salem, Ohio, assignorto The Deming Company, Salem, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio I Application May 18,

6 Claims.

This invention relates to'an impeller pump having a rotary impeller revolvable'in a chamher and receiving liquid from a suitable passageway and discharging it from the periphery of the impeller, which has blades or buckets to propel the liquid. The invention is particularly concerned with the provision of simple and effective means to enable the maintenance of the smooth ,the impeller, gradually reducing the efficiency of the pump. I have found, however, that the wear of the impeller is usually slight in comparison with the wear on the surface of the heads, and

I have found that in the majority of cases the pump can be restored to normal efficiency by refinishing the wearing surfaces of the heads. My invention provides ready means for enabling such refinishing to be effected in the field without special equipment.

In carrying out my invention, I provide a pump a with two impeller heads having parallel inner impeller between the heads, and I space the heads apart by means of an interposed ring having a width equal to that of the impeller plus the clearances between the impeller and the two heads, and I so form the heads that the surface thereof opposite the side of the impeller and the surface engaging the ring lie in the same plane.

It results from the formation described that when either head is scored by grit in the water pumped, the face of the head may be restored to its normal condition, without changing the clearance, by simply removing the head and manipulating it in engagement a piece of line emery cloth backed up. by a perfectly level surface. Ordinarily only a slight amount of metal 1343, Serial No. 487,452

it will thereby be automatically caused to stand in the proper position with reference to the impeller, so that the proper space is at all times preserved between the two heads and the impeller notwithstanding successive refinishings of the heads.

My invention is illustrated in the drawings hereof and is hereinafter more fully explained in connection with such drawings, which explanation also sets out the advantage above-mentioned and the other advantages of my construction. I a y In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a side elevation partly sectional of a motor driven impeller pump embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a vertical or transverse section through'the impeller chamher, the section being indicated by the line 2-2 on Fig. 1 and the view being taken looking toward the left of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a- P rspective partly broken away of the head defining the inner face of the impellerchamber, the face of the outer head being similar; Fi'g. 4 is a diametric crosssection of the innerhead as indicated by the line 4-4 on Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a perspective partly broken away of the separator ring; Fig. 6 is a diagram illustrating three cross sections of the separator ring designated A, B and C, and beingtaken in the positions indicated respectively by the lines A-A, 3-3 and 0-0 on Fig. 5.

30 It will be convenient to describefirst the complete pump illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, though it is to be understood that the present invention is concerned with the means defining the impeller chamber and water passages irrespective of external details of the pump.

In Figs. 1 and 2, the main frame of the pump comprises an annular ring-like portion l0 having a cylindrical inner periphery and provided with downwardly extending web-like portions II, which are shown as terminating in horizontal flanged portions 12 providing a base for the pump. The upper portion of the ring-like member ID is formed with intake and discharge passageways designated 20 and 25 respectivelywhich lead to the cylindrical inner periphery of the frame ring.

Two removable heads 30 and 35, which have cylindrical peripheral portions, fit snugly in the interior of the frame ring l0 and are spaced, as about to be explained, on oppositeside's of the impeller 40. The impeller has buckets arranged about the periphery on each side, such buckets, as shown, being effected by radial veins 4| with recesses 42 between adjacent veins. The outer faces of opposed veins are in the same plane as 55 the sides of the impeller and the recesses com- I gasket 80.

prise gradually tapered portions coming to an edge at the periphery.

The impeller is mounted on a suitable shaft 50. As shown the impeller has a hub 44 with a tapered bore fitting tightly on a tapered end portion of the shaft and is clamped in place by a nut 5|. The two heads 30 and 35 are bowed or offset outwardly adjacent the center, as indicated at 3i and 36, to provide space for the impeller hub and the nut.

Any suitable means may be employed for journaling the shaft 50. I have shown the shaft as having an axial bore 52 by which it adlustably embraces the-armature shaft to of a suitable motor. The motor is shown as mounted in a casing attached to an intermediate frame 62 which is bolted to the ring-like frame l0. This frame 62 carries a bearing 63 for the motor shaft.

The impeller shaft isshown as split near its outer end and embraced by a. nut 55 on a tapered thread to enable the impeller shaft to tightly clamp to the motor shaft. I have shown the impeller head 30 as carrying an extension sleeve 32 within which is suitable packing material oompressed and held in place by apacking nut 33.

It will be understod from the description given, that, in this embodiment of the invention, when the motor is rotated the impeller is rotated within its chamber and draws liquid from the intake (past a check valve 2!, Fig. 2, if desired) through the passageway 'to the impeller chamber, which I liquid is carried around the chamber by theimpeller blades, rotating in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 1, and discharged through'the passageway 2'5-if desired, into a suitable discharge chamber 26.

Coming now to the particular feature with which the present invention is concerned, it will be seen that the inner face of each head and comes to a single plane and that these two -planes near the periphery of the rings abut against an interposed separator ring 10. This ring (except at the intake and discharge regions) is parallel-sided and has a thickness equal to that of the impeller plus the clearance on each side thereof, so that when the heads abut the ring they are automatically maintained to giv'e proper clearance on opposite sides ofthe impeller.

As' shown, the inner head 30 is entirely within the frame It and has a cylindrical flange at its outer edge abutting the intermediate frame member 62. The outer head 35 is likewise mounted within the cylindrical inner periphery of the frame member ID but is provided with a laterally extending external flange 31 which overlaps the adjacent .side portion of the frame and is slightly spaced therefrom. An annular gasket 30 between the head flange 31 and the side of the frame maintains a tight connection, thisv gasket being shown as mounted ona rabbeted edge of the frame. Bolts 8| passing through the flange into the frame force the head inwardly tightly against the separator ring it and suitably compress the Y The two heads are formed with opposed annular recesses 34 and 38 respectively and the separator ring 10 for the most part has its inner edge gradually curved transversely to a central ridge H standing close to the periphery of the impeller in the central plane thereof, whereby two incompletely annular water race-ways are provided for the two sets of impeller blades on opposite sides of the impeller. The raceways'terminate in upwardly extending intake and discharge passageways registering with the passageways 20 76 and 25 of the pump frame. These outwardly extending passageways of the two heads are approximately radial as shown at 2| and 26 respectively, in Fig. 2, and their walls flare laterally as shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4, to provide gradual intake and discharge passages.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 5 a-nd 6, it will be seen that the separator ring 10 for the most parthas the cross section indicated at A, which is rectangular except for the ridge "II at the inner edge. At the intake and discharge,

where the passageways 34 and 38 curve outwardly at 2| and 26 to merge with the intake and discharge passageways 20 and 25 respectively, the separator ring is tapered inwardly to an edge, as shown at B, this edge standing close to the .periphery of the impeller. The portion of the ring Ill between the intake and discharge passageways forms the partition or cut-water between the intake and discharge and in this region the separator ring is purelyrectangular in cross section. as indicated at C. l

It will be seen that the inward tapering of the separator ring in the intake and discharge region provides divided passageways leading respectively to the two sets of impeller buckets and from such sets. I have found that such divided flow, particularly in the discharge, improves the efliciency of the pump, as it'permits the flow from the two raceways to unite gradually and more evenly in the travel to the receiving chamber, than if there were a direct surge of the two streams of .water together as they leave the two sides of the impeller.

In pumps of this type the impeller ordinarily rotates at several thousand revolutions a. minute, and it thus results that grit entrained in the traveling stream of water and necessarily working into the clearance space between' the heads and the impellerwill cause a scoring action. I have found that such scoring is much more severe in'the stationary members than on the rotating member.

Now when the scoring occurs, if it ison the outer head it is merely necessary to remove such head from-the frame and polish the inner face thereof by laying it down on a piece of emery cloth supported on a hard flat surface. I have found that a piece of plate glass makes a good flat support and by rubbing the head manually on the emery cloth so supported the scoring is efliciently removed. If the inner head is scored the loosening of the clamping nut 55 allows the impeller to be withdrawn from the inner head after the outer head has been removed, and then the inner head may be removed and its face polished by the supporting emery cloth.

, Irrespective of the amount of polishing, it applies equally to the region opposite the impeller and the region engagingthe separator ring, and accordingly, when the heads and impeller are replaced, the heads come to position to give exactly the proper clearance to the impeller faces. It is to be understood that the clearance is slight, because it-should be as small as may be without danger of binding the impeller, to improve the refinish the impeller surface, the impeiler may dressed down by a corresponding amount so that it would preserve the same excess of width over the impeller. While the separator ring does allow this restoration of the impeller, the main purpose of the ring is to allow the restoration of the heads, where, as stated, the diiliculty usually occurs. The particular formation of the ring at the water passageways and the cut-water is also an advantage in the operation of the pump as already explained.

I claim:

1. In an impeller pump, the combination of a rotary impeller and heads on opposite sides thereof defining 'the impeller chamber, a ring between the two heads beyond the periphery of the impeller and abutted on opposite sides by the heads,

said heads being grooved by raceways terminating in intake and discharge passageways extending substantially radially outward, said ring extending arcuately across saidpassageways.

2. In a pump, the combination of a frame, a pair of heads mounted therein, a ring mounted in the frame between the heads abutted by the heads, the heads having annular faces and armate raceways beyond said faces terminating in intake and discharge passageways crossing the ring, arotary impeller between the heads having adj acent its periphery buckets adjacent the raceways, the impeller being parallel-sided in the region between said annular faces of the head, and the ring where it is engaged by the heads being parallel-sided and having a width equal to the width of the impeller plus the clearance between the impeller and annular faces of the heads, said annular face of each head and the surface abutting the ring lying in the same plane.

3. In a'pump, the combination of a frame having a cylindrical opening, an inner head having a cylindrical exterior occupying said opening, an outer head having a cylindrical exterior occupying the opening, a ring having a cylindrical exterior occupying the opening between the heads and engaging the wall of the opening, a shaft extending through one of the heads, an impeller on said shaft between the two heads within the rin there being clearance spaces between the sides of the impeller and annular faces on the two heads, and the portion of the heads abutting the ring lying in the same plane as the annular faces opposite the sides of the impeller, the ring having a width equal to that of the impeller plus the normal clearances'between the impeller and the annular faces of the heads, raceway grooves in the two heads outside of said annular faces and within the portion abutting the ring, outward erally extending outward flange overlapping the frame and normally spaced slightly from it, bolts passing through the flange into the frame, a gasket between the flange and the frame whereby a tight connection may be maintained notwithstanding slight inward movement of the ring to compensate for the annular inner face and the portion abutting the ring being polished away.

4. In an impeller pump, the combinationof a rotary impeller and heads on opposite sidesthereof defining the impeller chamber, a ring between the two heads beyond theperiphery of theimpeller and abutted on opposite sides by the heads,

said heads being provided with partially annular raceways terminating at one end in a discharge passageway, said ring being inwardly tapered where it crosses the discharge pass geway' to provide two gradually separating exits from the raceways.

5. In a. pump, the combination of a frame, a

pair of heads mounted therein, a ring mounted in. the frame between the heads abutted by the heads, the heads having annular faces and arouate grooves beyond said faces forrning raceways terminating in intake 'and discharge passageways, a rotary impeller between the heads having adjacent its periphery buckets adjacent the raceways, the impeller being parallel-sided in the region between said annular faces of the head and the ring having a width except at the intake and discharge passageways equal to the width of the impeller plus the clearance between the impeller and annular faces of the heads, the intake and discharge passageways to and from the heads passing in two courses across the ring, the ring beinginwardly tapered where such passageways cross it.

6. In a pump, the combination of a frame having a cylindrical opening, an inner head having a cylindrical exterior occupying said opening, an outer head having a cylindrical exterior occupying the opening, a, ring having a cylindrical exterior occupying the opening between the heads and engaging the wall of the opening, a shaft extending through one of the heads, an impeller on said shaft between the sides of the impeller and annular faces on the two heads, raceway groovesin the two heads outside of said annular facesjand within the portion abutting the ring,

outward recesses in the heads from the ends of said raceways across the ring leading respectively from and to the intake and discharge passageways in the pump and crossing the ring, inwardly tapered recesses in said ring where it crosses the intake and discharge passageways registering with the outward recesses in the heads leadrecesses in the heads from the ends of said racelog to and from the raceways, the portion of the ring between the inward and outward passageways being parallel-sided and constituting the cut-water.

WALTER A. SHAILENBERG. 

